The Supreme Court is still conducting as much business as possible. It has resumed face-to-face proceedings and jury trials in all courtrooms.
The judges of the Supreme Court of Tasmania have decided to reduce the precautions taken by the Court in relation to the spread of COVID-19 by making the wearing of face masks optional rather than compulsory. This information gives details of the Court’s current COVID-19 precautions as from 13 October 2022. It supersedes Circular No. 11 of 2022. It applies to people attending the Supreme Court in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie. It is published at the discretion of the Chief Justice, the Hon Alan Blow AO
The Supreme Court will continue to take various precautions against the spread of COVID-19. The judges are very conscious that there are many people who have no choice about attending Court, including litigants, accused persons, witnesses, jurors and legal practitioners. The arrangements below will apply unless a judge gives a direction to the contrary.
Face masks
The wearing of face masks in Supreme Court buildings is now optional, and no longer compulsory. No person needs to wear a face mask unless a judge gives a direction requiring a face mask to be worn.
Court staff will have a supply of face masks, and will make masks available on request.
Vaccinations
People attending the Supreme Court will not be asked to reveal their vaccination status or to provide proof of their vaccinations.
Screening and temperature testing As a general rule, no one entering a Supreme Court building will be asked any screening questions or required to undergo a temperature check.
However anyone with flu-like symptoms must not enter a Supreme Court building, and may be refused entry or required to leave.
Arrangements for jurors
Jurors with respiratory conditions that make them vulnerable to infections may ask to be excused from jury service.
If a juror tests positive for COVID-19, he or she must not come to the Court for at least 7 days, but must notify the Court staff that he or she has tested positive.
If a juror develops flu-like symptoms, he or she should inform that Court staff and arrange to take a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).
As far as practicable, arrangements for jurors to sit at least 1.5 metres away from each other will be continued. However, in order to deal with a backlog of criminal jury trials, the Court will use some jury rooms in Hobart and Launceston where separations of 1.5 metres will not be possible.
Participation by video-link and telephone
Each judge will determine on a case by case basis whether legal practitioners, witnesses and others may participate in proceedings by audio-visual link or by telephone.
CRIMINAL REGISTRY
If you are on bail you must still turn up to court.
Each night the court list for the following day is published at:
https://www.supremecourt.tas.gov.au/daily-lists/.
If your name is under the heading For Bail Consent your case has been adjourned to a different date.
All legal practitioners are directed to the following relevant practice directions and circulars:
Practice Direction No. 3 of 2020: New Arrangements Relating to COVID-19
Circular No. 3 of 2020: COVID-19 and Miscellaneous Criminal Business
Practice Direction No. 1 of 2022: Arrangements Relating to COVID-19
CIVIL REGISTRY
The Civil Registries of the Supreme Court remain open state-wide.
All legal practitioners and applicants in person are directed to the following relevant practice directions and circulars:
Practice Direction No. 1 of 2020 CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESPONSE – Civil Litigation And Appeals
Circular No. 2 of 2020: e-Filing In The Supreme Court
PROBATE REGISTRY
The Probate Registry remains open. The Registry is now only accepting documents by mail or Document Exchange. All documents will be returned by mail or Document exchange.
To speed the return of the Grant of Probate, the Probate Registry recommends that firms and applicants in person make payment of the filing fee when lodging the probate documents. If this payment is not being made by cheque but by electronic transfer, please ensure a copy of the remittance and confirmation receipt is sent together with the application or is sent by email to the Probate Registry with clear identification as to the estate name and/or tax invoice number.
If you wish to make payment by EFTPOS (credit card), a telephone call can be made to the Probate registry for the confidential transfer of card details.
Applicants in Person are referred to the Probate Registry page on this website at the following link: https://www.supremecourt.tas.gov.au/probate/
Should any issue arise from this direction please email our office directly. Contact information: probate@supremecourt.tas.gov.au
OTHER INFORMATION
MEDIA RELEASE – Corona Virus Response (15 March 2020)
MEDIA RELEASE – Suspension of Jury Trials (18 March 2020)
Tasmanian Government Coronavirus webpage: